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Microparticle Manipulation by Standing Surface Acoustic Waves with Dual-frequency Excitations
Published on: August 21, 2018
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Mode-determined unidirectional phonon transducers for minimal frequency splitter.
Juxing He1,2, Shibin Zhang3,4, Pengcheng Zheng1,2
1State Key Laboratory of Materials for Integrated Circuits, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Shanghai, China.
Nature Communications
|November 23, 2025
Summary
This study introduces a novel piezoelectric substrate for precise phonon manipulation. It enables unidirectional phonon emission and demonstrates a minimal on-chip frequency splitter with high transmission ratios.
Area of Science:
- Acousto-optics
- Spintronics
- Quantum Technology
- Surface Acoustic Waves (SAW)
Background:
- Precise phonon manipulation is crucial for advanced fields like quantum technology.
- Surface acoustic waves (SAW) on piezoelectric substrates offer a promising platform for phonon control.
- Phonon emission, alongside propagation, is a key design consideration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel heterogeneous substrate for enhanced phonon manipulation.
- To realize unidirectional emission of different phonon modes using symmetric transducers.
- To propose and demonstrate a minimal on-chip frequency splitter based on the new platform.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a heterogeneous substrate using ion slicing technology, bonding 42°Y cut LiTaO3 thin film on 4H-SiC.
- Utilizing a double-modes natural unidirectional transducer (DMNUDT) design.
- Characterization of unidirectional phonon emission and frequency splitting capabilities.
Main Results:
- Successful fabrication of the LiTaO3/4H-SiC heterogeneous substrate.
- Realization of unidirectional emission of shear horizontal SAW and longitudinal leaky SAW phonons in opposite directions using symmetric transducers.
- Demonstration of a minimal on-chip piezoelectric frequency splitter with >15 dB transmission ratio within a resonator footprint.
Conclusions:
- The developed DMNUDT on the heterogeneous substrate enables unprecedented control over phonon emission directionality.
- The novel platform facilitates the creation of compact and efficient on-chip signal processing devices like frequency splitters.
